Users need to hide applications on their phone or tablet for two reasons. The first is the desire to keep your personal life, secret correspondence or photo gallery secret. The second is a large number of rarely used icons on the application bar, making it difficult to find the ones you need. How can you hide icons on Android?
How to hide application icons using standard Android tools
Developers offer applications for masking unused icons, and Android versions 4.0 and higher have a built-in function for removing unnecessary icons. To hide icons, follow the instructions below.
Application panel
Application bar - a menu in which icons are collected installed programs and games. The icon hiding feature is available on Android 4.0 and above. Instructions:
- Go to the application panel. On a smartphone, the icon is located in the bottom panel of the main screen and looks like a circle or square with 6-9 squares inside. When you open the panel, you will see icons of installed programs.
- At the top you will see the Apps and Widgets tabs. Go to the applications tab.
- Find the button that opens the menu additional options on the phone. In new smartphone models it is located in the upper right corner of the screen, in previous models it is located in the lower right or left. Tap the button and select Hide Apps.
- Check the icons you want to hide. The number of selected icons is shown at the top of the display.
- Click the "Done" button at the top right of the display - the icon will disappear from the application tray.
Remember! Program icons do not fit on the display and can take up two or three pages. While hiding icons, scroll the list of icons to the right or up to see them all.
To show previously hidden icons, follow the same steps and uncheck selected applications by tapping each one.
How to hide icons using the app drawer (gallery)
Step 6 - You can hide multiple icons if needed Step 5 - Make sure apps are hidden Step 4 - Highlight unused icons
Step 3 – Select “Hide/Show apps” Step 2 – Select the options menu Step 1 – Click on the app drawer icon
Phone settings
The second way to hide applications is to use the standard settings. Only suitable for preinstalled programs, which the system does not allow to delete. The function is available on Android version 4.0 and higher. Instructions:
- Go to your phone settings, go to the “General” tab and select “Applications”.
- Scroll to the All tab.
- Select the application you want to hide and tap the appropriate option.
- Click the Off button on the right side and confirm your selection in the dialog box.
- Repeat for other applications.
To return disabled applications to the list, go to the application settings again, select the “Off” tab, open the disabled applications one by one and click “Enable” for each. The icons will appear in the application drawer.
How to remove icons through settings (gallery)
Step 6 - If necessary, return the icon to the menu Step 5 - Make sure the application is hidden Step 4 - Confirm the action
Step 3 - Disable the application Step 2 - Go to the All tab Step 1 - Select Application Settings
How to hide icons through launchers
Launchers such as Apex or Nova allow you to hide icons for programs you rarely use.
A launcher is a program that visually and functionally changes the Android interface.
The method is suitable for Android versions, supporting installation of the launcher (usually starting from version 4.0).
Apex Launcher
- Install the launcher and open Apex Settings.
- Select "Application Menu Settings" and then " Hidden apps».
- Check the boxes next to the programs you want to hide and click “Save”. Checked icons will not appear in the Apex menu.
By default, the launcher icon is hidden. You can add it to the application bar by unchecking the box.
To return hidden icons, repeat the previous steps and uncheck the programs. In addition, by uninstalling Apex, you will automatically return the menu to standard view, which will cause hidden icons to start showing.
How to hide icons using Apex Launcher (gallery)
Step 4 - Mark required applications Step 3 – Select “Hidden Apps” Step 2 – Tap on “App Menu Settings”
Step 1 - Select Apex Settings
Nova Launcher
Application Nova Launcher available on the Play Store. Having installed paid version Prime, you can hide app icons. Instructions:
- Open the application drawer, select Nova Settings.
- Open the “Application Menu” in the list and in the “Groups in the Application List” tab, select “Hide Applications”.
- Check necessary programs and exit the menu with the “Back” button. Changes are saved automatically.
Instructions for hiding applications through Nova Launcher (gallery)
Step 3 - Select the hide feature Step 2 - Select the applications menu Step 1- Select Nova Settings from the application drawer
How to hide icons from strangers with Hide it Pro
The Hide it Pro program allows you to protect the user’s private “mobile” life from interference by strangers. In the menu it is displayed as an Audio Manager program so that uninvited guests do not recognize the true functionality. When you open the application, you will see sound settings– volume of alarm, call, notifications. To get to the secret part of the program, press and hold the logo. The program will prompt you to choose a locking method - a numeric password or an alphabetic one. Instructions for further actions:
- Please enter your address Email to recover your password. You can skip this step.
- After entering your email, a menu with sound settings will open. Click on the logo again and sign in using the password you created. You will be taken to the main menu of the program.
- Select the Hide Apps icon. To the warning about the need for root rights for the program to work correctly, answer “OK”.
- Go to the “All applications” tab, select the item you want to hide, and confirm the action.
In addition to icons, using the program you can hide private pictures or videos, as well as set passwords for opening applications.
Attention! If you do not have Root rights on the system, Hide it Pro will not work.
How to Hide Apps Using Hide it Pro (Gallery)
Step 6 - Confirm that you have root rights Step 5 - Select Hide Apps Step 4 - Set a login password
Step 3 - Select Password Type
Good afternoon, we continue to study operating systems of the Windows family. The notification area is located on the taskbar and contains program icons that provide status information and notifications for items such as incoming email messages, updates, and network connectivity. When installing new program In some cases, you can add its icon to the notification area, the convenience is that you do not close the application, but it is minimized there for quick, subsequent access to it, this saves a lot of time.
How to Customize Windows Notification Area Icons
Today we will talk about icons windows notifications 7 and 8, many people ask how to remove unnecessary icons from the right side of the taskbar, since some people are frankly annoyed by them, and their number can be very large, especially in cases where you buy a laptop with Windows 7 or 8.1 already installed and my example is still very harmless.
Sometimes there are opposite questions: “I installed an antivirus, at first the icon was there and then disappeared,” a person panics, especially someone who is just getting acquainted with this operating system, and there is no need to blame him for this. Both can be easily resolved. In order to remove unnecessary icons from system area taskbar, click on the arrow next to the language menu and click on “Customize”.
How to hide or show notification area icons in Windows-01
After this, a window will open for us to select icons and notifications displayed on the taskbar. Next to each icon there is a drop-down menu with three options:
- Show icon and notifications
- Show notifications only
- Hide icon and notifications
We choose the desired option and enjoy life, I advise you to go through all the Windows 7 notification icons, make your own checklist, so to speak, and only add new ones in the future.
If you accidentally checked the Always display all icons and notifications on the taskbar box and don’t know how to put everything back in its place, then through the “Start” menu go to the “Control Panel” and select “Notification Area Icons”, and then proceed as written earlier diagram.
If we need not just to hide, but to disable the display of a particular service, then follow the link “Turn on or off system icons".
Remove notification icon windows 7
However, I will immediately note that you should not count on the ability to connect/disable icons and notifications of all services in this way. If you want to restore everything to its original state, then there is a Restore default icon behavior button for this. I would like to point out that it is impossible remove icons from notification area, since this is not possible, you can only hide everything that you think you don’t need and those who write that they can do it are simply deceiving you.
Instructions
Right-click on the “Start” button in the lower left corner, then, in the “Properties” menu selected next, open the “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” window if you have Windows XP.
Go to the “Taskbar” tab, make sure that “Hide unused icons” is checked in the “Notification Area” column. This feature allows you to remove hidden icons that have not been used for a long period of time.
Select "Customize". In the “Notification Settings” window that appears, on the “Current Items” tab, expand the entire list and select the option that is convenient for you from the proposed ones: hide if (the icon will be hidden only if you have not accessed it for a long time), always hide (icon will always be hidden) or always display (respectively, will be constantly displayed).
Click OK and close all windows. If on your computer you use Windows system Vista, the steps to remove hidden icons will be slightly different.
Right-click on the Start menu, select Properties.
In the “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” window that opens, select the “Notification Area” tab.
In the “Icons” column, be sure to check the “Hide unused icons” checkbox if it is not there, and click the “Customize” button.
In the “Configuring notification icons” window that opens, select the “Current items” section, expand the list completely and select the desired item: hide if inactive (the icon will be removed only if you have not accessed its program for a long time), always hide (icon will always be hidden in the taskbar) or always displayed (accordingly, it will always be displayed in the tray).
Click OK and close everything open windows.
Make sure that the changes to the icon experience make it easier for you to use.
A large number of icons in the notification area on the taskbar can significantly increase the loading time of the operating system, as well as reduce the performance of a low-power computer. Fortunately, the notification area can be cleared of unnecessary software icons.
Instructions
To edit the icon display in Windows XP, right-click the Start button and select context menu"Properties" command. The “Task and Start Menu Properties” window will open, in which you should go to the “Taskbar” tab and in the “Area” section, check the box next to “Hide unused icons”.
After this, you need to click the “Customize” button and in the “Current Elements” section of the new dialog box, set what is necessary for each icon. After completing the settings, click the "OK" button to apply the changes made.
To edit the list of icons in Windows Vista and 7 right-click in an empty area of the taskbar and select Properties. In the Notification Area section, click the Customize button and make sure the checkbox next to Hide unused icons (Vista) is selected. In Windows 7, the checkbox next to “Always show all icons on the taskbar” should be unchecked.
After that, you can set each icon from the list to the desired value: hide, show, show only notifications, and hide inactive ones (Vista). Click OK to make changes to the system settings.
Sources:
- notification icons
The system tray displays applications that are running on the computer in currently time. If necessary, you can always remove the icon from the system tray using special features taskbar.
You will need
- Computer
Instructions
If you need a specific icon from the system tray, you can do it in a few seconds. Many users mistakenly believe that to hide an icon, you need to right-click on it and select “Close” or “Exit”. It is not right. By doing the above, the user disrupts the operation by stopping the execution of certain scripts. To remove the tray icon without harming the operation of the operating system, there is one effective method that is worth talking about in more detail.
If you want to free the system tray from a certain icon, you need to perform the following steps: move the mouse cursor over the taskbar, then right-click on it. A window will open in front of you, reflecting all kinds of settings and parameters. In this window, you need to left-click on the “Properties” field.
After you activate this field, the “Taskbar and Start Menu Properties” window will appear on the desktop. Switch to the Taskbar tab if this moment Start options are displayed. At the very bottom you will see the “Customize” button (it is located opposite the “Hide unused icons” item). Click on this button. In the window that opens, you will see icons of applications currently running on the computer. To hide one of them, find the desired icon and click opposite it in the “Behavior” field. Select Always Hide and save your settings. The icon will be removed from the system tray.
Many programs place their icons in the tray, which is what the right side of the taskbar is usually called. The official name of this component of the operating system is the “Notification Area”. Typically, such icons serve as an indicator of the program's status - they change their appearance to provide information about the events processed by the program, its current settings, etc. There are several ways to disable the display of the tray icon.
Instructions
Use the customization option to disable the display of its tray icon. In the majority software products Manufacturers provide this option. First open the settings window for this - usually this can be done double click icons in the tray or by selecting the appropriate item in the context menu. Find the setting that is responsible for enabling the icon in the notification area and uncheck it. For example, in the case of the Punto Switcher program, you need to right-click the icon, select “Settings”, uncheck the “Show icon on taskbar” box and click “OK”.
Use the properties of the taskbar itself if it is not possible to disable the display of the icon in the program settings. To do this, first right-click the empty space in the tray and select “Properties” from the context menu.
If you are using operating system Windows XP, then click the “Customize” button in the lower right corner of the taskbar properties window to open another window titled “Notification Settings”.
If you're using Windows Vista or Windows 7, find and click the "Customize Notification Icons" link at the bottom of this window. This action will also open a window similar to “Configure Notifications” in Windows XP.
In all three listed systems, find the right application in the list of elements displayed in the notification area and expand the drop-down list associated with it in the “Behavior” column. In Windows XP, the desired item is called “Always Hide”, and in Windows Vista and Windows 7 it is called “Hide Icon and Notification”.
Commit the changes made in the notification area settings of the “Taskbar” component by clicking the “OK” button.
Sources:
- How to remove the shield icon from program shortcuts in Windows 8
Many users do not know that Windows has a special feature that allows you to hide all shortcuts on the desktop, as well as files and folders. Why is this necessary? For example, you are working at a computer, and besides you there are several other people in the room. If you don't want to show them the contents of your desktop, you can simply hide it. In the same way, you can prank a friend or relative by hiding all the shortcuts on the desktop of his computer. In general, you do this at your own discretion.
So, the procedure itself is extremely simple and will take a minute of your time.
Here is a small fragment of the desktop. In this screenshot you can see a couple of shortcuts and a folder. I'm showing them to you only as an example - these icons and others on the desktop will be hidden.
Now let's do this. Find an empty space on the desktop and click on right button mice. The following menu appears:
We move the mouse cursor over the “View” item, it appears extra menu. This is exactly what we need. Uncheck the box “Display desktop icons”.
Now we look at our desktop and... That's right, all the icons have disappeared. If you also want to hide gadgets if you have them installed, then in the same menu, uncheck the “Display desktop gadgets” option.
Accordingly, when you need to “turn on” the shortcuts, you do the same operation, only this time you check the boxes next to the required items.
For Windows XP
In the case of Windows XP, the process will be similar, except that in the menu you need to select not the “View” item, but the “Arrange desktop icons” item. Uncheck the “Show desktop icons” checkbox.
That's all, actually.
Some time ago, when asked what kind of wallpaper is on my desktop, I would have answered something like “I never see my wallpaper, I have shortcuts on my desktop and in general, I work on the computer.” However, now I began to catch myself thinking that the further I go, the more relevant the aesthetic side of the work becomes. Good power modern computers already allows you to leave the beauty of the Aero interface enabled without compromising functionality. As a last resort, you can use some unnecessary services.
However, my long-term habit did not allow me to give up shortcuts on my desktop, so I began to look for a way to “eat the fish and never get into the boat.” This method turned out to be the use of several desktops along with the panel quick access, as well as hiding shortcuts on a schedule.
The concept of multiple desktops has been used for quite some time in the world of Linux and Mac OS X, with Windows 10 it has finally “woke up” and Microsoft company. The Top Ten added support for multiple desktops, but the functionality turned out to be limited (you cannot use different shortcuts on different desktops; only active applications are distributed across them). For a full-fledged “multi-desktop” I have been using the Dexpot program for a long time. The utility is “portable” (does not require installation on the system), you can use it like this:
This completes the initial setup of the Dexpot utility; the system has several desktops, each with its own design. The functionality of the program is, of course, much broader, but in this article we only touch on managing shortcuts.
Winstep Nexus Dock
The second utility we are considering today for optimizing the workspace is called Winstep Nexus Dock. It serves to place shortcuts to frequently used applications on colorful animated dock panels. Let's take a closer look at the utility:
AutoHideDesktopIcons
Finally, the “final chord” of optimizing the workspace is the ability to temporarily hide certain program shortcuts without deleting them from the desktop. This functionality is provided by a small “portable” utility with the self-explanatory name AutoHideDesktopIcons. To use it, do the following:
As a result, by clicking the mouse on the desktop, the shortcuts are displayed, and after a period of inactivity specified in the settings, they disappear, leaving the desktop clean. 
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